bipolar blog reader comment – school, meds and uneducated family members

Ok! I keep saying I’m going to reply to comments when I can. I just have to do it instead of thinking about doing it! Here is a comment about school:

Hi Julie,   I was going to school full time for three terms but this summer my doctor and I decided to change my meds.  YUCK…I have been feeling horrible and really had two steps backwards as far as treatment goes.  I am thinking of taking fall term off so that I can get medical help, read your cards and books and get well again.  It is sometimes discouraging to try medications and have them mess you up more than help.  To make matters worse my family and friends seem to think I can think my way out of this without medications or help…I am still hopeful for the future but I am struggling but I guess with bipolar WE are always struggling.  smile

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bipolar disorder and work/school: reader comment

Hi, I’m having a tough day depression wise- then I read this comment from Gerry in Australia. It was so positive I wanted to put it here:

Comment:

 

G’Day all I am new to the blog, but would like to say something positive on this issue which I hope will encourage everyone else with bipolar. I’m lucky because I don’t suffer from some of the worst symptoms of bipolar & also was rather old when I had my first psychotic episode. So before that I managed to get a BA with Honours & a Phd. Now I am a full time academic in Politics. It was only after working full time for 7 years that I discovered that I had bipolar. It does impact on my work sometimes, but my Dept. has been very good about making some [ Read More ]





Bipolar Disorder and College

I recently had an email asking if a person with bipolar disorder can finish college.

Well, sure they can! But….

There is always a but…

College is the same thing as work. It’s a stimulating environment with a lot of people and a lot of pressure. Bipolar disorder doesn’t like this. It took me eight years to finish college. I didn’t have a treatment plan then. In fact, I didn’t know I had bipolar disorder.

As with any stressful situation, the solution is planning. You will need a treatment plan before college starts.

I write about this in my Get it Done When You’re Depressed book- there is one specific strategy on getting through college. The whole book talks about making it through tough situations.

I have to be honest and say I can’t go to school full time. It’s too stressful for me- but I can go part time! Many friends of mine with [ Read More ]